Spectacle and eyeglass case



y 1934- A. J. PRATT I SPECTACLE AND EYEGLASS CASE Filed May 1, 1955 l INV ENTOR dgghurdfvai'l. x 3%;

Patented July 24, 1934 V UNITED STATES 1,967,426 SPEOTACLE AND EYEGLASS CASE Arthur J. Pratt, Belmont, Mass, assignor to American Optical Company, Southbridge, Mass, a voluntary association of Massachusetts Application May 1, 1933, Serial No. 668,741 7 Claims. (01. 20 -6) This invention relates to improvements in receptacles and has particular reference to an improved case for spectacles and eyeglasses and method of making the same. 7

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide improved'means and method of making a spectacle or eyeglass case having a cover member formed with a reenforcing edge portion adapted to provide protective means for preventing the peripheral edges of the case covering material on said cover member from becoming loosened or frayed during use. 1

Another important object of the invention is to provide a spectacle or eyeglass case with a cover member having its central portion depressed, leaving a raised marginal reenforcing edge along the sides and front of the cover and a depressed marginal edge along the back or hinge side thereof adapted to form a shouldered de- 1 pression in which the-flexible covering material or the case may be fitted by extending the said material from the main box portion of the case through the depressed marginal edge and into the depression, with the peripheral edges of said covering material abutting the shouldered portion of the depression so that it will be protected from becoming loosened or frayed during use.

Another object of the invention is-to provide an improved process of making a covered case of l the above character wherein portions of the metallic body of the case may be left exposed for decorative or other purposes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following descrip- 1 tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and it will be apparent that many changes in the steps of the process and in the arrangement oi parts and details of construction" may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. ited to the exact steps of the process and details of construction shown and described as the preferred form only has been shown by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawing: I

Fig. I is a plan view of a case embodying the invention; 7

Fig. II is a perspective view showing a section taken on line II--II of Fig. I; and

Fig. III is a fragmentary perspective View of one end of the case showing the cover' portion raised.

It has been usual, in the past, in spectacle and eyeglass cases of the above nature to cover the I, therefore, do not wish'to be limentire case with a flexible material such as leather, imitation leathenfabric or other suitable means to provide a decorative finish. Recent changes in the design of such cases have brought abouta style-trend wherein it is desired to have exposed metallic parts which 'may be given a highly polished, engraved or other decorative finish; which parts have introduced many difficulties in manufacturing. One or" these difficulties is that of forming an inexpensive smoothly finished case wherein the edges of the flexible covering material adjacent the exposed metallic parts of the case will not become loosened or frayed during use. Most cases of this nature, in the past, were formed by securing a separate metallic part to the case after it had been covered in the usual prior art manner. .This process was not only very expensive but the metallic parts extended outwardly beyond the surface of the covering material and formed an irregular and undesired finish. It, therefore, is one of the prime objects of this invention to provide a case of the above character wherein the said case will have exposed metal parts blended with the flexible covering material of the case in such a manher that the said materialwill lie flush with the exposed faces of the metal and be protected along its peripheral edges by said exposed metal parts so that it will not become loosened or frayed during use. H p

Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein like. characters of reference, designate like parts throughout the several views, the device embodying the invention comprises amain box portion 1 having a cover member2 hinged thereto throughout its rear edge as shown at 3.

The cover 2 is formed from a sheet of .material such asaluminum, steel; silver, gold, or other suitable means, which is blanlgedtothe desired contour shapef' and is then pressed or otherwise 9 shaped witlra centraldepressed portion 4' having a raised marginal reenforcing edge portion 5 along the front and sides thereof. The central de-" pressed portion 4 extends outwardly to the rear marginal edge of the case and terminates 'in a v portion of the hinge member 3. This forms a shouldered depression cm which the flexible cov-" ering 6 of the case may be fitted as shown inFig." II. The cover 2 may if desired, during the formmg of the marginal portion 5, be formed with a raised portion '7, as shown in Figures I and II, to provide a surface on which a monogram or other means may be placed.

The flexible covering 6 may be formed of genuine leather, imitation leather, fiber, cloth or other suitable material cut or otherwise formed to the desired contour shape and size and is secured throughout the entire outer area. of the main box portion 1 by an adhesive or othersuit- 5 able means in the usual prior art manner. The covering is in secured relation with the case from the edge 8 on the inside of the lip portion 9 to, a point 10 outwardly of; the case andadj acent the rear dge of the box portion The saidilexible covering from the. point 10 upwardly of the back of the case is unsecured up to a point ii wherein it is secured to the cover portion? throughout its entire contacting, area with cover portion. The flexible covering 6 throughout its peripheral edges 12"i s a'd aptei't o abii t with the shouldered portions lfl ofi'th cove fif dc-Q sired the covering 6 may be secure at the said abutting edges by a cementor-Iother suitable. ada hesive similar to that used in securing, the. said m ea ing mea hgiins. a i ns? e sweet as ar me t m he e2. 'afl ptne dly oiifsaidi'sides turned iinvard ly a r t tic that shown at a em the 11 9.

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covering to the surface 4 of the cover: To ai d' membe Qz e..- aid m mbe havin araised:

; parall l.w thtth 0 y inec f. shee enate alapni said mem e s,,.said

hers, said flexible Covering extending from one member to the other member over the hinged side and being shaped to overlie said last named member with itsperipheral edges abutting the edgesof theraised marginal portions.

3. In a device of the character described, a box member and a cover member attachedat one side tofsaid box member, one of saidmembers having a raised shouldered marginal portion on all sides thereof except the attached side and a flexible.

covering on said members, said flexible covering extending from one member to the other member oven the attached side and being shaped to overlie said last named member with its peripheral ed es abutting the shouldered edges of the raised ma ma as ime '4. In a deviceof the character described, a box memben'and a cover member attached atone side. tosaid box member, one of said members "havingitsbentral portion depressed andhaving mex na m m. serm n Qa=11l, sies..-ther oi @3- ent tha ttae edl s de nd c v r ng :91. mat r al. a d; m mbe sysai h et. ater l extending from one member. into the. depression the wh n m mber br us hed n e se i ma inal; PQIKUOQ. Q tthe. taehe l. s e and. ein sh pe to nd 1a th ep es d Por imi within themar i a rim- 5:1 p a ev g oi the har t 'desg ib d. abx

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member w t in he ai e m r ina ed e 6-. na e ic ioft iecha a e d se ibe atbcix m mhert n a covermem er hin ed o; said-box ma in l im portion .on al i s but the. hinge daadan e t -f rmagde ressed area-within said.

im. Peri an which. ex nds; ou wardly to. the,

n ed ed e of said m mber iand a covering terial njs i ym mbers, sa d. overinamateriaiexte dinst r mfi ne. member over. the a hing d side 5 ai e b. i o...t e. depr ss d. ar a ti. the

thsrtmem mr andb nss cu ed aidailepressed area with its outer s uriace siibi fiflntially with r the, exposed surface oi. the pprtion 7 Ir a deviceof thecharacter described, abox Qex.. av .ne.a. ove memberhi d-thereto one of said members, having a; raisedpottien; ther on" sa d: ais :pmtti ns a s a ur a e wh ch as. a. if ere t :nlane; but substa tiallm 001v 1. s extendin iron n memb r. ver hfli hereonqand; instana d e. o t on abuttinaa membenand. a. i

. ineels siao i a dmem er a d ver the: smifaceg 1 of;.-the, other. -member, having the. raised portion 

